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-MONUMENT AM) FIItE I'l.ACK 



OU IDE 



Putnam Memorial Camp, 



—WITH A — 



CONlPIvKXE HISTORY 



-OF THE — 



KNCAMPMKNT, INCIDENTS, ORGANIZATION OF 
THE BRIGADES, ITINERARY, &c. 



^ \ ,. ,t 



COMPUTED BY THU 

SECRHTARY OF" THE^ CoiviivrissioN. 




WASHINGTON : 

BYRON S. ADAMS. 

i8go. 



COPYRIGHT BY 
CHARLES B. TODD, 

ISgo. 



All rights reserved. 



DEDICATED TO 
THE 

Sons and Daughters 

OF -THE 
REVpi,UTION. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



On the sitting of the Connecticut Legislature in January, 
1887, the following resolution was adopted: 

Resolved by this Assembly, that a committee consisting 
of one Senator and four Representatives be appointed to 
investigate and report at once on the practicability and 
desirability of obtaining for the state the old Israel Putnam 
Camp Grounds in the town of Redding, on which traces 
of said encampment still exist, and the erecting thereon of a 
suitable monument or memorial. 

The resolution passed, and Senator Cole of Bethel, Messrs. 
Bartram of Sharon, Gorham of Redding, Wessells of Litch- 
field, and Barbour of Branfofd, of the House, were appointed 
a committee to visit the grounds and report. Early in Feb- 
ruary this committee, accompanied by a number of interested 
members, proceeded to Redding. They were met at the 
station by a delegation of citizens of Redding and escorted 
to the winter quarters which they inspected. To this com- 
mittee, by request, Mr. Charles B. Todd presented a plan for 
the lay out of the grounds, which we take from an article on 
the winter quarters in the New York Evening Post of that 
date, and which was wddely copied by State papers. 

It is not proposed to erect a pleasure park, but a me- 
morial. The men it is designed to commemorate were strong, 
rugged, simple. Its leading features, therefore, should be 
of similar character and of such an historical and antiqua- 
rian cast as to direct the thought to the men and times it 
commemorates. The rugged natural features in which the 
proposed site abounds should be retained. I would throw 
over the brooks arched -^tone bridgQS with stone parapets 



Sucli as the troops marched over in their campaigns through 
the Hudson valley. The heaps of stone marking the limits 
of the encampment sliould be left undisturbed as one of the 
most interesting features of the })lace. One might be recon- 
structed and shown as it was while in use. A summer 
house on the crag guarding the entrance, might be reared 
in the form of an ancient block-house, like those in storm- 
ing or defending, Avhich Putnam and his rangers learned 
the art of war. Such a structure, at this day, would be an 
historical curiosity. I know of but two in the world — one 
on Sugar Island, at the moutli of the Detroit River, and 
another at Mackinac Island, in the Straits of Mackinaw. 
For the monument I would suggest a cairn of stones from 
the neighboring limestone quarry, to be surmounted by a 
})yramidal monolith of granite, ten feet high, each of its 
four faces bearing an inscription as follows : 

For tlie north face : 

On this spot, and on two others situated one and two 
miles to the westward respectively. Gen. Putnam's division 
of the Continental Army, encamped during the severe 
winter of 1778-9, enduring untold privations, in the belief 
tliat their sufferings would inure to tlie benefit and happi- 
ness of future millions. 



On the reverse 



The men of '7(), 
who suffered here. 



To pi'cserve their memory so long as time endures, the 
State of Connecticut has acquired tliese grounds and 
erected this monument, A. D. 1887. 

On the east face tlie names of the division and brigade 
commanders; on the west an extract from Putnam's ad- 
dress, sliglitly change<l. 

All the world is full of their j)rHises, 
I*osterity stands astonished at their deeds. 

This j)lan, modified as to details, has since been followed 
in the lay out of the Camp. The Special Committee, on 
February 9th, submitted the following report : 



Your Committee * * * visited the site on Febru- 
ary 3d, and found it to be a sloping hillside facing the east, 
diversified with crags and plateaus and forming the west 
wall of the valley of Little River, an affluent of the Sauga- < 
tuck. The ground is two miles from Bethel, the nearest 
railroad station, and five from Danbury, at which point 
railroads from all parts of the state converge. A fine forest 
covers the greater part of the site ; brooks flow through it 
falling in cascades over the crags, and the general situation 
is commanding and delightful. 

The heaps of stone marking the site of the log huts in 
which the brigades were quartered, are forty-five in number 
and are arranged opposite each other in long, parallel rows 
defining an avenue some ten yards wide and five hundred 
feet in length. These, with others scattered among the 
crags, admirably define the limits of the encampment, and 
form one of the best preserved and most interesting relics of 
the Revolution to be found in the State, if not in the 
Country. It was here that Putnam and his brigades win- 
tered in 1778-9. 

The owner of the site, Aaron Treadwell, offers to donate 
so much land as the State shall decide to take for the pur- 
pose of preserving intact forever the old Camp Ground, and 
for erecting thereon, a suitable memorial. Your Committee 
would recommend the acceptance of the offer of Aaron 
Treadwell- as a gift to the State, and the appropriation of 
fifteen hundred dollars for the erection of a suitable mem- 
orial thereon. They, also, recommend the appointment of 
a Committee of four, by his Excellency, the Governor,_ to 
receive, for the State, a deed of said site, and for the laying 
out of the grounds and the erection of a memorial. 

A resolution^ embodying these recommendations, was 
passed on April 21st. 

The committee appointed by Governor Lounsbury, in ac- 
cordance with the resolution, comprised Hons. Samuel B. 
Gorham, of Redding, and Isaac N. Bartram, of Sharon, 
Messrs. Charles B. Todd and Aaron Treadwell of Redding. 
This Committee caused to be erected during the summer of 
1888 the present monument. It was apparent, however, 



10 

(hat the tract of twelve acres whicli liad been presented by 
Mr. Treadwell, very iiiadeiiuately preserved the autonomy 
of the former camp. The line of l)arracks originally ex- 
tended through the adjoining fields North nearly a quarter 
of a mile, and to bring the limits of the former winter 
([uarters entirely within the control of the State, Mr. 0. 
B. Jennings, of Fairfield, purchased the Read property on 
the north for five hundred dollars, and generously donated 
it to the State. 

The whole tract now com})rised thirty -two acres, and needed 
to be fenced and made accessible by means of roads, walks, 
etc. Messrs. Hull & Palmer, engineers of Bridgeport, were 
accordingly employed by the committee to make a topo- 
graphical survey and map, and prepare a plan or lay out. 
This plan, with the engineer's estimate of cost, etc., was sub- 
mitted to the Connecticut Legislature of 1889, at an early 
date, and a Joint Select Committee of one senator and six 
representatives was raised to proceed to Redding, view the 
monument and grounds, and report. This Committee, con- 
sisting of Senator Bartram, of Sharon, Representatives Sharp, 
of Pomfret, Miller, of Redding, Day, of Brooklyn, Chiches- 
ter, of Wilton, Burlingame, of Canterbury, and Sunderland 
of Danbury, visited the Camp early in February, 1889, and 
were again hospitably received and entertained by the citi- 
zens of Redding. They reported in favor of the whole 
amount called for in the engineer's estimate — $20,608.55, 
and an act appropriating this amount passed both Houses 
and was signed by Governor Bulkley, June 19, 1889. A 
commission of seven persons " to be appointed by the 
Governor," had previously been created, and had been 
authorized " to accept on behalf of the State any gifts of 
real estate or money which might be offered to the State, 
* * and to take charge of the Camp Ground until August 
1, 1891, or until their successors were appointed." Section 2d 
authorized tlie commission " to cause said CamjD Ground to 



11 

be fenced and otherwise suitably improved as they should 
deem meet and proper, provided they did not exceed the 
amount of money that might be given, together with the 
amount appropriated by the State therefor, including pay 
for their own services." 

"Said commission to report in full their doings, and 
the amount by them expended to the next general assembly." 

Under the second act, Governor Bulkley appointed the 
following gentlemen as commissioners : Isaac N. Bartram 
of Sharon, Charles B. Todd of Redding, Oliver B. Jen- 
nings of Fairfield, Clement A. Sharp of Pomfret, Oland H. 
Blanchard of Hartford, Samuel S. Ambler of Bethel, and 
James E. Miller of Redding. 

The w^ork of restoring the winter quarters and of laying 
out the grounds was begun by this commission in July, 
1889, and completed in the autumn of 1890. The total 
area of the present Park is thirty-nine acres. 




I. 

THE PUTNAM WIIMTER QUARTERS. 



EFORE beginning his tour of tlie Camp, the visitor 
will wish to know something of its history, for rock 
and crag, tree, bush, and brook possess additional 
interest when the glamour of heroism and patriotic self- 
sacrifice is thrown upon them. Our winter quarters possess 
this patriotic and historic interest. 

The autumn of 1778, was one of the dark esthours of the 
Revolution. The army had accomplished almost nothing 
that summer. It had failed to hold the Jerseys, the Hudson. 
The enemy entrenched in New York was bold and aggress- 
ive, particularly so along the coast of Connecticut, toward 
which sturdy little state as the hot bed of rebellion he owed 
a special grudge. The Continental Army was unpaid, ill 
fed, half clad, but must be held together during the long, 
dreary winter approaching, that it might be in condition to 
take the field again when spring opened. The site for the 
winter cantonment became an important question, and was 
long and anxiously debated. Many of the general officers 
were for staying where they were in the Highlands. Put- 
nam pronounced in favor of some central location in western 
Connecticut where they could protect both the Sound and 
the Hudson, and especially Danbury, which was a supply 
station, and which had been taken and l)urnt by the enemy 
the year ])revious. General Heath's brigade had been on 
guard in Danbury during this summer of 1778, and while 
visiting him Putnam had no doubt discovered the three 
sheltered valleys formed by the Saugatuck and its tributaries 
(12) 



13 

which Ue along the border Hne of what was then Danbury 
(now Bethel) and Redding. These valleys open to the south, 
are warm, sunny, well watered, about equidistant— seventeen 
miles—from Stratford on the east and Norwalk on the west, 
were well wooded in that day, and so defended by dominat- 
ing hills and crags, that a handful could hold them against 
an army. They were but three days march from the High- 
lands. 

It was decided to quarter the army in Redding. Putnam 
and a corps of " artificers " preceding the main body by some 
weeks, laid out three camps in the valleys mentioned, and 
had the log huts which were to shelter the soldiers well 
advanced ere the main body arrived. 

The form of the three camps was identical, all being laid 
out on a meridian line, with two, and in places, four rows of 
barracks placed parallel to each other. These barracks, like 
those at Valley Forge, were built of logs, notched at the 
corners, and chinked with mortar, with a capacious stone 
chimney at one gable end. They were 12 feet wide by 16 long 
and accommodated twelve privates, or eight officers. Within 
were three or four bunks filled with straw, affixed to the sides, 
and the house-keeping equipment M'hich the regulations of 
the State, and of Congress allowed the soldier. It appears 
by the " order book " of Lieut. Samuel Richards, paymaster 
in Col. Wylly's Connecticut regiment, that the army began 
its march from Fredericksburg, in the Highlands, October 23, 
1778. The following extracts show the order of march : 

Headquarters, October 22, 1778. 

Nixon's, Parson's and Huntington's Brigades are to march 
tomorrow morning at 7 o'clock from the line under the com- 
mand of Major General McDougal. 

Orders of March : 

General Nixon's Brigade leads, Huntington's follows, 
Parson's brings up the rear. Commanding Officers of Corps 
will be answerable for the conduct of their men while on the 



14 

march. Artillery to march in centre of each brigade — the 
baggage of General Officers to march in rear of the troops, 
the other baggage will march in the same order. Forage 
and Commissary wagons in the rear of the whole. 

This dctaclimont camo down the llousatonic valley as 
appears by the next order datcnl at New Milford, October 2(), 
177S. 

His excellency, the Commander-in-chief, lias directed the 
troops to remain liere till further orders, and be in readiness 
to march at the shortest notice, as circumstances shall require. 
While the division is reposed, two days bread will Ije on store 
continually baked. 

They remained there at least nine days as a})pears by the 
following curious order: 

New Milford, November 5, 1778. 
The honorable, the Continental Congress, having on the 
12th of October passed a rosolution to discourage pro- 
})haneness in the army; It is inserted in this division for the 
information of officers, and General McDougall hopes for 
their aid and countenance in discouraging and suppressing 
a vice so dishonorable to human nature, to the commission 
of which there is no temptation enough. 

The Division was safely in camp by November 14:th, how- 
ever, as appears by the following order dated Camj:* 2d Hill, 
November 14, 1778 : 

The General, having obtained permission of the Com- 
mander-in-Chief to be absent a few days from the division, 
the command will devolve upon Brigadier-General Hunt- 
ington. General McDougall is hai)py that it falls upon a 
gentleman in whose care for and attention to the troops he 
has the utmost confidence. The Orders will be issued, as 
usual, at the Headquarters of the division. 



15 

This " 2d Hill " was, without doubt, the middle camp on 
the side of the hill below the residence of the late Sherlock 
Todd. The general officers were quartered in the farm houses 
in the vicinity of the Camps. Putnam on Umpawaug Hill. 
McDougall in a house then standing on the site nearly oppo- 
site the residence of the late Sherlock Todd. General Parsons 
on Redding Ridge, in the house of Lieut. Stephen Betts, and 
nearly opposite the residence of Squire Heron, a famous 
tory of that day. 

Some facts regarding the strength, morals and organiza- 
tion of this army will be of interest in this connection. 

Col. Humphrey tells us that it was the whole right wing 
of the Continental Army, which had rendezvoused at White 
Plains that summer, thence marched to Fredericksburg, and 
thence to Redding, leaving detachments to garrison the 
Highlands. Major-General Israel Putnam was Commander- 
in-Chief; Major-General Alexander McDougall, Division 
Commander; Brigadier-General John Nixon, Commanding 
the first Continental brigade ; Brigadier-General Jedediah 
Huntington, Commanding the second Continental brigade ; 
Brigadier-General Samuel Parsons, Commanding the third 
Continental, brigade ; Brigadier-General Enoch Poor, Com- 
manding a brigade of the New Hampshire' line ; Colonel 
Moses Hazen, Commanding a corps of infantry, and Gen- 
eral Sheldon, Commanding a corps of cavalry. It would 
be interesting to know precisely how many men were en- 
camped here, but it is difficult to fix the exact number. 
Col. Humphrey says, that in this summer of 1778, three 
armies were mobilized at White Plains, forming the right 
wing of the Grand Army ; that it contained sixty regiments 
of foot, in fifteen brigades ; four batteries of artillery ; four 
regiments of horse, and several corps of State troops. Not 
all of this army came to Redding, as before remarked, but 
from the extent of the three camps, it is evident that a large 
portion of it was encamped here. 



16 

Before telling how this great hody was organized, offi- 
cered and controlled, it will be proper to sketch briefly the 
Conmianders. With the history and exploits of General 
Putnam every school boy is familiar. The quaint old 
colonial house at Danvers, Mass., where ho was born, is 
still standing. The incidents of the wolf den, of the powder 
magazine at Fort Edward, liis gallantry at Bunker Hill and 
on many revolutionary holds are twice-told tales and need 
not be recounted here. 

General Alexander AIcDougall, the second in command, 
was a native of Scotland, iiaving been born in the Island of 
Islay, in 1731. He settled when quite young in New York 
city, and when the contest between England and the Colonies 
began espoused warmly the patriot cause. Ho was appointed 
June 30, 1776, Colonel of the first regiment raised for the 
war in New York city. From this time his promotion was 
rapid. He was made Brigadier General August 9th of the 
same summer; Major General, October 20, 1777, and with 
his connnand was in the Battle of White Plains, AVhite 
Marsh, and Germantown. He had been in command of the 
Highlands during this summer of 1778. In 1780 he was a 
delegate from New York to the Continental Congress. He 
died in Now York, June 8, 1786. 

John Nixon, senior Commander of the Connecticut 
Brigades, was born in Philadelphia, in 1733, liis father 
being a well-to-do ship merchant there. He was port 
warden of Philadelphia in 1766. An ardent patriot he 
early opposed the tyranny of King George, and in 1776 was 
commissioned Colonel of a Philadelphia regiment to succeed 
John Cadwallader, who was made Brigadier General. He 
served with distinction in the battle of Princeton, and 
suffered with Washington at Valley Forge. 

Jedediah Huntington was a native of Norwich, Connec- 
ticut, a merchant and graduate of Harvard College. He 
entered the army as Colonel at the beginning of the war, 



17 

and gained the distinction of having served under every 
general officer in the Revolution, except Stark. 

Samuel H. Parsons was born in Lyme, Connecticut, May 
14, 1737, and was the son of the distinguished clergyman. 
Rev. John Parsons. He was an able lawyer, and at the 
opening of the war was King's Attorney for New^ London 
County, which office he resigned to enter the patriot army. 
He originated the design of seizing Ticonderoga ; was com- 
missioned Colonel of the 6th C-onnecticut Regiment, April 
26, 1775, and Brigadier General in the Continental Army 
by Congress in August, 1776. He won the perfect confi- 
dence of Washington, and there is evidence that he was 
employed by him on secret service to discover the designs 
of Sir Henry Clinton. During tliis winter through Squire 
Heron, an ostensible loyalist of Redding Ridge, he carried 
on a correspondence with Clinton, undoubtedly with the 
knowledge of Washington and Putnam. Heron being to 
Clinton a bitter tory, but in reality a friend to the colonies. 
After the war General Parsons was a prominent figure in 
tlie settlement of Ohio. 

General Enoch Poor, Commander of the New Hampshire 
Line, was. born in Andover, Massachusetts, June 21, 1736. 
After the battle of Lexington he raised three I'egiments in New 
Hampshire, and took command of one. Congress in Feb- 
ruary, 1777, commissioned him Brigadier General. He had 
served with honor in the campaign against Burgoyne the 
summer previous, having led the attack at Saratoga, and 
had been present at the Battle of Monmouth in this summer 
of 1778. He died in Camp, near Hackensack, the year 
after leaving Redding, 1780, and was buried with military 
honors. 

Let us next consider the regiments encamped here and 
learn what we can of their formation, discipline, dress, ac- 
coutrements, and the routine of life at the camp. Sheldon's 
and Hazen's corps seem to have been all the Continentals 



IB 

lioiv, the ivst bciiii;' ".state tru<)}).s" uf ('oiiiieeticut and New 
llanipsliire.* 

l^otli classes, state and continental, were, liowever, mod- 
eled larji,-ely on the plan of the old militia system of the 
Colonies, and had been largely recruited from that source. 
The militia system of Connecticut, just prior to the Revolu- 
tion, was one of the most perfect and etfective ever devised. 

The hloody French and Indian Wars from 1745, down, 
had been her school and drill master. Let us study this 
system briefly. It was organized in 1789, with the Governor 
as Captain-General and Commander-in-Chief. Thirteen regi- 
ments were formed at that time from the " train bands," 
the first militia unit, each commanded by a Colonel, Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel, and ]\Iajor, who were commissioned by the 
Governoi". A I'egiment might also include a troop of horse. 
There was an annual " muster of arms " on the first Monday 
of May, several " company " trainings a year, and a " regi- 
mental muster" once in four years. In 1756 two "com- 
pany revicM's" were instituted to be held yearly on the 1st 
of May and 1st of October. In 1767 tlie Fourteenth Regi- 
ment was formed of ( 'ornwall, >Sharon, Salisbury, Canaan and 
Norfolk. In 1769, the Fifteenth was formed of Farmington, 
Harwinton and New Hartford. In 1771 the Sixteenth, of 
Danbury, Ridgefield, Newtown and New Fairfield. In 1774 
the Seventeenth, of Litchfield, Goshen, Torrington and AVin- 
chester, and the Eigliteenth, of Simsbury, Ncav Hartford, 
Hartland, I>arkhamste(l and Colebrook. In October to meet 
the coming storm, four additional regiments were formed. 
The Nineteenth, from East AVindsor, Enfield, Bolton and that 
part of Hartford east of Connecticut River. The Twentieth, 
from the military companies of Norwich. The Twenty-fii'st, 
from ITainfield, Canton, Voluntown, and the South Com- 



*.State troops were not rejijularly mustered in, l)ut were lent AVashington 
by their respective states when a special danger threatened, or for a certain 
purpose. Tliey were usually under the orders of the Governor and Coun- 
cil of their states. 



19 

pany of Killingiy ; and the Twenty-second, of Tolland, Som- 
ers, Stafford, Willington and Union. In May, 1776, two 
more regiments were formed, one in Westmoreland County 
in Pennsylvania, then a part of Connecticut, and the other 
in Middletown and Chatham. Later, in 1776, the Twenty- 
fifth was formed of East Haddam, Colchester and the Society 
of Marlborough, while the cavalry troops were organized 
into five regiments of light horse. So that as the struggle 
opened, Connecticut had twenty-five regiments of foot and 
five of horse, armed, officered, and to some extent drilled, that 
could be called to her defence. All ma,les between sixteen 
and fifty were liable to serve in these regiments. Not a few 
of the men were veterans seasoned in the French and Indian 
wars. The Assembly of 1776, mobilized this force into six 
brigades, appointed a Brigadier-General for each • brigade, 
and two Major-Generals to command the whole. There 
were then 26,000 men in the colony capable of bearing- 
arms ; 1,000 of them beyond, the Delaware. These men 
served in the Continental army in two ways — as enlisted 
men when they left the state service and were known as 
continental or regular soldiers, and as militia ordered by 
the Governor or Assembly to some threatened point, when 
they were known as state troops. , In August, 1776, for 
instance. Governor Trumbull ordered all the militia west 
of the Connecticut River — 14 regiments — to march to the 
defence of New York. 

The Continental service was modeled much after that of 
Connecticut. The main difference between the continental 
and the militiaman was, that the former took an oath " to be 
true to the United States of America, and to serve them 
honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers, 
whatsoever, and to observe and obey all orders of the Conti- 
nental Congress, and the orders of the General and officers 
set over me by them," while the state troops swore fealty to 
their State only. Congress, July 18, 1775, provided that the 



•20 

ooinpaiiv should coiu})!'!.-^ ■ a (•a})taiii, t\\;) luaittaiaiits, an 
ousio'ii, four ser<i;eants, i'our corporals, a clerk, druiiinicr, 
fifVr and sixty-ci^'ht privates. ( 'onncetiiait at its October 
session made the same })ro\'ision, although hefore that time 
the State com})anies had consisted of one hundreil men. 

The camp e(|ui})ment of the militia, provided the full 
(jiiota had been maintained, seems to have been sutticiently 
liberal. An order of 1 77o. enumerates, "1)0 mar(piees or 
officer's tents, 500 private tents, cloth for 4s tents, and for 
")00 tents, 1,092 iron ])ots of 10 (piai'ts each — if not pots then 
tin kettles : 1,0!»8 pails, 2 brass kettles of 10 gallons each for 
each com})any, 2,500 wooden l)Owls, 4 frying i)ans per com- 
pany, 6,000 quart runlets, (>0 drums, 120 fifes, 1 standard for 
each regiment, a medicine chest and ap})aratus not to exceed 
£40 in cost, a set of surgical instruments for the cor})s, 70 
books in quarto of one ({uire each, 2 reams of writing pa})er, 
10 of cartridge paper, 1 cart for each company, etc." 

The Continental soldier had to furnish himself Avitli a good 
musket, earrying an ounce ball, a Ijayonet, steel i-amrod, 
worm, priming wire and brush, cutting sword or tomaliawk, 
cartridge box containing twent>'-three rounds of cartridges, 
twelve flints and a knapsack. Eacli man was also to 
provide himself with one pound good })o\vder and four 
])Ounds of balls. The rations of the militia were also suffi- 
ciently liberal, pro\'ided they could have secured them — 
4' })0und of pork, or one })ound beef, 1 })Ound bread or flour, 
.') ])ints beer Friday. l)eef fresh two days in the week, | pint 
rice or pint of meal, (5 ounces butter, '■) ])ints peas ])er week, 
a gill of rum per day when on fatigue, mid no afJicr fi)iie. 
Milk, mola.sses, candles, soap, vinegar, coffee, chocolate, sugar, 
toV)acco, onions in season, and vegetables at tlu' discretion of 
the fiehbofticers are mentioned. The pay of officers an.d 
men was as follows: Major (Jeneral, £20 per month; 
Brigadier Goneral, £17 ; Colonel, £15; Lieutenant-Colonel. 
£12; Major, £10; Chaplain, £H ; Lieutenant, £4; Ensign, 



21 

£3 ; Adjutant, £6, 10s. Quarter master, £3 ; Surgeon, £7 
10s; Surgeon's mate, £4; Sergeant, £2, 8s; Corporal, £2, 
4s; fifer and drummer, £2, 4s ; private £2. If they found 
their own arms £10 for use of the latter. The musket pres- 
cribed by Connecticut must have a barrel 3 feet 10 inches 
long, I inch bore, bayonet blade 14 inches long, iron ramrod, 
good lock and stock well mounted with brass, and the name 
of the maker on it. Is 6d, was given each man who sup- 
pHed himself with 3 pounds of balls, 3s for a pound of powder, 
and 3d for six flints ; otherwise they were supplied out of 
the Colony stock. 

By November 14th, as remarked the troops were all safely 
ensconced in winter quarters. A few days after, with 
a terrible northeast snow-storm, winter set in — one of 
the longest and severest ever known in this region. The 
mercury sank to its lowest level, and the snow was so deep 
that all surface landmarks were obliterated, and people 
traveled in their sledges at will without regard to high- 
ways or fences. The poor soldiers, half clad, illy supplied 
with blankets, camp equipage, food and medicine, and 
housed in rude log huts, suffered terribly. Tales of the 
destitution of those times are still current in the town, hav- 
ing been handed down from father to son. 

We have no account of the destitution at Putnam Camp 
from the diarists of the period, but frOm what has been re- 
corded of other winter quarters, we infer that it was bitter in 
the extreme. Putnam, wrote to Washington the spring be- 
fore, as follows : " Dubois Regiment is unfit to be ordered 
on duty, there being not one blanket in the regiment. 
A'ery few have either a shoe or a shirt, and most of them have 
neither stockings, breeches nor overalls. Several companies 
of enlisted artificers are in the same situation and unable to 
work in the field." 

Dr. Thatcher, in his diary, kept at ^^ alley Forge the 
winter before, adds to the picture : 



22 



Thousands are without blankets and keep themselves 
from freezing by standing all night over the camp fires. 
Their foot prints on the frozen ground are marked in blood 
from their naked feet. For two or three weeks, in succession, 
the men were on half allowance, now without bread for 
four or five days, and again without beef or pork. A 
foreign visitor, walking through the camp, lieard plaintive 
voices within the huts, saying " no pay, no clothes, no pro- 
visions, no rum," and whenever he saw a miserable being- 
flitting from one hut to another, his nakedness was covered 
onlv bv a dirtv blanket. 




(log barrack restored.) 

Washington, in his letters to Congress, also refers in af- 
fecting terms, to the sad condition of the men in winter 
quarters. 

At Lebanon and in Hartford, pitying, large hearted 
Governor Trumbull was making the utmost effort to succor 
the distressed troops, in which, he was heartily seconded by 



^3 

the Connecticut Assembly. For instance, the latter body at 
its November session, 1776, enacted that the select men of 
each town should procure and hold in readiness for the sol- 
diers, 1 tent, 1 iron pot, 2 wooden bowls and 3 'canteens 
for each £1000 of the grand list of said town ; and in Jan- 
uary, 1778, it ordered that each town must provide 1 hunt- 
ing shirt, 2 linen shirts, 2 pair linen overalls, 1 pair stock- 
ings, 12 pair good shoes, and one-half as many blankets for 
the continental soldiers. But the towns were so impover- 
ished that, in many cases, they could not respond to the 
requisitions, and the soldiers suffered accordingly.* 

The pet grievance of the Connecticut troops, however, 
was the failure to pay them the wages due, so that not only 
they, but their wives and children at home were starving 
and distressed. Some of the troops had been paid in the 
depreciated colony bills of credit. Some had not been paid 
at all, simply because the treasury was empty. 

Toward mid winter after long brooding over their wrongs, 
two of the Connecticut brigades revolted, and formed ranks 
with the design of marching to Hartford and demanding 
redress from the Legislature then assembled there. Putnam, 
whose headquarters Were on the west side of the town, two 
miles away, heard of the affair, and thrpwing himself on 
his horse, rushed to the front of his disaffected brigades, 
and with flashing eyes and animated voice thus addressed 
them : 

My brave lads, whither are you going? Do you in- 
tend to desert your officers, and to invite the enemy to 
follow you into the country ? Whose cause have you been 
fighting and suffering so long in — is it not your own ? 



*In 1778, the town of Redding petitioned the Legislature for rehef. 
" Forty-nine of her citizens," says the petition, " have gone to the enemy ; 
six are dead or prisoners; nine 'are in the corps of artificers ; twenty-eigiit 
men are in the Continental Army, and one-hundred and twelve m the 
train bands," leaving scarcely none to man the farms and produce money 
or supplies to meet the requisitions. 



24 

Have you no property, no parents, wives, or children? You 
have behaved Hke men so far — all the world is full of your 
praises, and posterity will stand astonished at your deeds ! 
hut not if you spoil all at last. Consider how much the 
countrv is distressed hy the war. and tliat your officers have 
been no better paid than yourselves. Ihit we all expect 
better times, and that the country will do us am])le justice. 
Let us all stand by one another then, and tight it out like 
brave soldiers. Think what a shame it would be for 
Connecticut men to run away from their officers. 

With the last word he ordered the acting major of brigades 
to give the connnand to shoulder arms, march to the regi- 
mental parade grounds, and stack arms — the command 
beiuH' obeved almost automaticallv bv the brigades. This 
ended the revolt. Xo one was punished except the ring- 
leader of the atiair, who was confined in the guard-house, 
and was shot and killed l)y the sentinel on duty in the act 
of escaping. 

Courts-martial were of quite frei[uent occurrence. One 
of the earliest acts of the (jonnecticut Assembly was to 
prescribe i)enalties for every imaginable offence, and 
Congress at one of its first sittings followed its example. 
In all cases trial for these ofiences was by court-martial. 
Willfully absenting himself from divine service or behav- 
ing irreverently or indecently in church, swearing, exciting 
nuitiny or sedition, drawing a sword on an officer, fighting 
a duel, or laughing at another for refusing to fight, drunk- 
enness, desertion, sleeping on post, giving the countersign 
unlawfully, wasting or selling ammunition, giving a false 
alarm, were among the otfencas forbidden l)y the Colony. 
The regulations adopted by Congress September 20, 1776^ 
eml)odied all these and more. Soldiers were punished for 
uttering provoking, or reproachful speeches, for being found 
one mile from camp, and for sleeping out of the quarters. 
They were to retire to their (juarters or tents at the beating 
of the " retreat " at sunset, and must report for " parade " at 



25 



the hour and not go off until discharged. They were also 
amenable to the civil authorities. In the order book of Fay- 
master Richards, are two entries which show the wide range 
taken by these courts-martial. Petty offences, we may 
premise \^ere tried bv a "regimental or brigade court- 
martial,'" composed of from three to five field officers, more 
serious offences bv a "general court-martial " composed of 
thirteen commissioned officers, the President of which 
" must not be the Commander-in-chief," 
The trials referred to, were as follows : 
Daniel A^aughn and Jonathan Gore,- of the 8th Connecti- 
cut regiment, l^ied by a Brigade Court Martial whereof 
Lieuteiant-Colonel Sumner was President, for stealing a 
cup from Captain Zalmon Read, of Reading. The court 
are of opinion the charges against Vaughn and Gore are 
not supported. 

The second, February 4, 1779 : — 

Was tried at a General Court Martial, Edward Jones, for 
o-oing to and serving the enemy and coming out as a spy 
found p-uilty of each and every charge exhibited against 
him, and, according to law and the usages of nations, was 
sentenced to suffer death. 

February 6, 1779:— 

At a General Court Martial, was tried John Smith of the 
1st Continental regiment, for desertion and attempting to 
to to the enemy, found guilty, and further persisting m 
faying that he will go to the enemy if ever he has oppor- 
tunity, sentenced to be shot to death. 

The last two were so tragic in their resuUs, and so dra- 
matic in execution, that we may be pardoned for noticing 
them somewhat at length. -o i v 

Both trials, tradition says, were held m West Redding, 
near the General's headquarters. From old diaries, records, 



26 

and the regulations of Congress, one can reproduce, with 
some degree of exactness, the form and even the minutise 
of their proceedings. 

The President was an officer of high rank, as was also the 
prosecuting officer, who was detailed for this service by the 
Judge-Advocate General. The twelve other members all 
bore commissions from Congress. 

The President, having declared the Court open, the pros- 
ecuting officer administered the following "juror's oath : " 

You shall well and truly try and determine the matter 
before you between the United States of America and the 
prisioner to be tried, so help you God. 

And then each, individually took this special and solemn 
oath : — 

You, A. B., do swear, that you will duly administer jus- 
tice according to the rules and articles for the better govern- 
ment of the United States of America, without partiality, 
favor or affection, and if any doubt shall arise, which is not 
explained by the said articles according to your conscience, 
the best of your understanding and the customs of war in 
like cases ; and you do further swear, that you will not 
divulge the sentence of the Court until it sliall be approved 
of by the General or Commander-in-Chief. Neither will you, 
u})on any account, at any time, whatsoever, disclose or dis- 
cover the vote or opinion of any particular member of this 
Court-martial, unless requested to give evidence thereof as a 
witness l)y a court of justice in due course of law, so helj> 
you God. 

To the prosecutor was administered this oath : — 

You, A. B., do swear that you will not upon any account, 
at any time, whatsoever, disclose or discover the vote • or 
opinion of any particular meml)er of this court, unless re- 
([uired to give evidence thereof as a witness by a court of 
justice in due course of law, so help you God. 



27 

These formalities over, the prisoner was brought in by the 
Provost Marshal's guard, which had had him in charge 
since his arrest, and confronted with the witnesses against 
him. The latter before testifying took the following oath : — 

You, A. B., do swear that the evidence you shall give in 
the case now in hearing, shall be the truth, the whole truth, 
and nothing but the truth, so help you God ? 

The prisoner, Jones, was a Welshman, a loyalist, a 
resident of Ridgefield, who had gone over to the British, 
and had acted as butcher and purveyor of beef cattle for 
the enemy. The testimony of his captors proved that he 
was taken in Ridgefield within the Continental lines. The 
prisoner's defense was that he had been sent into West- 
chester County to buy cattle for the British army, and had 
strayed over the line. But this had little weight with his 
judges. In their eyes, he was guilty of two most heinous 
offences — going over to, the enemy, and returning back 
within the lines as a spy ; either, under the law of nations be- 
ing a capital offense. He was, therefore, condemned to death. 
Before the sentence could be carried out, however, it must 
be approved by the General in command. Putnam did not 
hesitate to approve it and endorsed on the paper : 

The General approves the sentence, and orders it to be 
put in execution between the hours of ' ten and eleven a. m., 
by hanging him. by the neck till he be dead. 

On the sentence of the deserter, John Smith, he likewise 
endorsed : 

Sentenced to be shot to death, and orders that it be put 
in execution between the hours of ten and twelve a. m. 

General Putnam having two prisoners to execute, deter- 
mined to make the scene as terrible and impressive as the 
circumstances demanded. The lofty hill dominating the 
valley and the camp, (still bearing the ominous name, 



28 



(uillow.s Jlill), was chosen for the phice of execution, the 
instrument of death being erected on its liiohcst pinnacle. 
On the (hiv appointed, the entire army was mareht'd witli 
sok'mn roll of the drum ujton the lieights and massed in the 
open fields around the gallows. The entire country side also 
Hocked to view the spectacle. 

The scene at the execution, says Barber in his Historical 
(.'ollections, is described as bloo<ly and shocking. The men 
(HI -whom the duty of hanging devolved, left the camp on 
the day of tlie execution and could ]iot he found. A cou})le 
of boys, about twelve years of age, were ordered by General 
l\itnam to perform the duties of hanging. The gallows was 
about twenty feet from the ground. Jones was compelled to 
ascend a ladder and the rope al)Out his neck ^\■as attached to 
a cross-beam. Cieneral Putman tlien ordered Jones to jump 
from the ladder. 

" No, (Tcneral Putnam," said Jones, " I am imioeent of tlie 
crime laid to me. I shall not do it." 

Putnam then ordered the boys to turn the ladder over. 
The boys were atfected with the trying scene. They cried 
and sobbed and entreated to be excused from doing any- 
thing on this distressing occasion. Putman drawing his 
sword, ordered them forward and com|)elled them at the 
sword point to ol)ey his orders. Tlie soldier shot for de- 
sertion, was a youth aliout sixteen or seventeen years of age. 
Three bullets were shot through his breast and he fell on 
his face ])ut immediately turned over on his back. A 
soldier then advanced, and ])utting the mu//.le of his gun 
near the convulsive Ijody of tlie youth, disc-liarged its con- 
tents into his forehead, 'i'lie body was then taken up and 
])ut into a coffin. The soldiers liad tired their piecesso near 
that they set the boy's clothing on tire, and it continued 
burning. 

From the testimony of several persons who were present, 
however, it would seem that Mr. Barber was misinformed 



29 

and that no such scenes took place. Mr. James Ohnstead of 
Redding, who died in 1882, aged eighty-nine years, and 
wliose father was an otficer in the continental army and 
present on the occasion, gives an entirely different version. 
In an article published in the Daiiburij JVews, he says: 

My father * * * being an officer himself and well 
known to some of the officers on duty, was one of the few 
who were admitted within the enclosure formed by the 
troops around the place of execution and able to witness all 
that there took place. After prayer by the Rev. Mr. Bart- 
lett, tlie- younger prisoner. Smith, was first brought forward 
to his doom. After he had been placed in position and his 
death warrant read, a file of soldiers was drawn up in line 
with loaded muskets, and the word of command given. The 
firing was simultaneous, and he fell dead on the spot. 
After the snioke had cleared away it was found that his 
outer garment, a sort of frock or blouse, had been set on fire 
by the discharge, and which was extinguished by a soldier 
who had fired. He was within a few feet of the scaffold 
when Jones, pale and haggard, was next brought on, his 
death warrant was read and- he seemed to recognize some 
few of his old friends, but said very little except to bid 
farewell to all, and his last words, which were, ' God knows 
I'm not guilty,' and he was hurried into eternity. 

My father had a pretty good general knowledge of Gen- 
eral Putman and his eccentricities, and had there been any 
unnecessary hardships or severity used in 'the treatment of 
the prisoners, he most certainly must 'have seen and known 
something of it, l)ut in all I ever heard from him or anyone 
else, no allusion was made to anything of the kind, and in 
view of all the circumstances I think it may be safe to infer 
that no such thing occurred on that occasion. 

Before describing the final breaking up, let us look in 
upon the camps, and spend a day there with the soldiers. 
At sunrise, reveille calls them from their beds. After their 
frugal breakfast, at ten o'clock comes " parade," or as we 
would term it, " guard mount." 



The continental soldier, wIkmi ])r(_'sental)l(', made no doubt 
a gallant show in his uniform of blue and butf with bayonets 
glistening and silken standards waving.* 

Once every two months the rules and ivgulations of Con- 
gress were read to the men on parade, and there was often 
some general orders or felicitation of the Oommandei- on 
some event of interest communicated at the same time. The 
sutler's tents were open until the " retreat " was beaten at 
sunset, and which sent every soldier to his quarters. Telling- 
stories, and singing patriotic songs were almost the only 
evening amusements of the soldiers. There were two talented 
young poets in the camp at this time, wliose stirring lyrics 
sung around the camp fires Avere well calculated to cheer and 
animate the soldier, and lead him to forget, or endure with 
cheerfulness his privations. These two poets were Col. 
David Humphrey, aide-de-camp to (leneral Putnam, and 
Joel Barlow, who had just graduated at Yale College, where 
he had distinguished himself by his patriotic commencement 
poem, the Prospect of Peace. Barlow was a native of Red- 
ding, and his brother. Colonel Aaron Barlow, was a meri- 
torious officer in the continental service, and the personal 
friend of Putnam. Both poets later rose to eminence, 
Humphrey becoming aide-de-camp to, and later the friend 
and companion of Washington ; Barlow, after filling various 
offices, died in Poland in 1812, Avhile our Minister to France. 

On Sunday all the troops presentable were formed in 
column and marched to the Congregational Churcli at Red- 
ding Centre, where they listened to the sermons of the elo- 
quent and patriotic Parson Bartlett, pastor of that church. 

Tliere were also chaplains of their own in camp, one of 
them being Abraham Baldwin, of New Haven, Avho later 
drafted the Constitution, and became a Senator of the 
United States from (Jeorpia. 



*The standard of the Fir.st Connecticut Ke<>inient wuh yellow, of the 
Second, blue, of the Third, scarlet, of the Fourth, crimson,' of the Fifth, 
white, of the Sixth, azure. 



31 

One of the recreations of the officers was in practising the 
rites and amenities of Free Masonry. While the army lay 
at Redding, American Union Lodge, which followed the 
fortunes of the arni}^, was organized " on application of a 
number of gentlemen, brethren of the Ancient and Honor- 
able Society of Free and Accepted Masons. 

Agreeable to the application a summons was issued de- 
siring the members to meet "At Widow Sanford's, near Red- 
ding Old Meeting House, on Monday 15th inst. (February, 
1779), at 4 o'clock past M." At this meeting General Par- 
sons was elected Master. Records of several meetings of 
the Lodge at " Redding viz. Mrs. Sanford's " follow. On 
March 25th the Lodge gave a state dinner which is thus 
described : 

Procession began at half-past 4 o'clock, in the following- 
order : 

Bro. Whitney to clear the way. 

The Wardens with their wands. 

The youngest brother with the bag. 

Brethren b}^ juniority. 

The Worshipful Master with the Treasurer on his right 
hand supporting the sword of justice, and the Secretary on 
his left hand supporting the bible, scjuare and compass. 

Music playing the Entered Apprentice March. 

Proceeded to Esq. Hawley's where Brother Little delivered 
a few sentiments on Friendship. The Rev. Dr. Evans and 
a number of gentlemen and ladies beilig present. 

After dinner the following songs and toasts were given, in- 
terspersed with music, for the entertainment of the company : 

Songs : Hail America ;* Montgomery ; French Ladies' 

*The song, Hail America, was the most popular in the army. We give 
it entire. It was sung to the tune of the British Grenadier. 
That seat of science, Athens, 

And earth's great Mistress, Rome, 
Where now are all their glories ? 
We scarce can find the tomb. 



32 

Lanu'iit ; Mason's Dauo-litcr ; On. on, My Dear Brethren; 
Huntsmen ; My Dog and (xun. 

'^Poasts : ( JeneraM\ ashinuton : The Menioi'v of Warren; 
Montiioniery and Wooster ; Rehef of tlie Widows and 
Orphans; Ladies of America ; Tnion, Harmony and Peace; 
Social l^njoynient ; ( 'ontentment. 

Music: (Irand Marcli ; Dead March; ("onnlry -lig; 
Mason's J)auuhter. 

The festivities wvvc concUided witli a spt'cch l)y Rev. 
\\"aldo. At ]ialf-i)ast 7 o'clock the procession hegan re- 
turinng to the lodge room in reverse order from the after- 
no(»n procession, music playing the Mason's Daughter. 

On A})ril 7th they dined at -3 o'clock, going in procession 
as ))efore, and diinng together " with a number of respectable 
inhabitants, gentlemen and ladies; the Kev. Dr. Evans de- 
livered a discourse suital)le to the occasion ; after climier there 

Then guard your. right*:, Americans, 

Xor stoop to lawless sway 
( )i)pose, oppose, ojjpose, ojjpose, 

My brave America. 

Proud Albion's bound to Ceasar 

And numerous lords before, 
To Picts, to Danes, to Normans, 

And many Masters more. 
But we can boast, Americans, 

"We never fell a prey. 
Huzza, Huzza, Huzza, Huzza, 

For brave America. 

We led fair freedom hither, 

And lo, the desert smiled, 
A Paradise of pleasure 

Was o])ened in tlie wild. 
Your harvest l)ol(l Americans, 

Xo power shall snatch away. 
Assert ycjurselves, yourselves. 

Ye sons of brave America. 

Torn from a world of tyrants, 

Beneath the western sky 
We formed a new dominion, 

A lan.l of Liberty. 
The world shall own its ^Masters here, 

The hei'oes of the day. 
Huzza, Huzza, Huzza, Huzza, 

For brave America. 



33 

were the usual songs and toasts, and at six o'clock the pro- 
cession returned to the lodge room. Thanks were presented 
to the Rev. Dr. Evans for his discourse, and to Rev. Mr. 
Bartlett and the other gentlemen and ladies who favored the 
lodge with their company at dinner." 

Bro. Belden's bill for the " two feasts " is given : 

£ s d 

For Thursdav March l^r)th 45 3 

Wednesday April 7th 81 14 11 

Bro. Sills bill, April 7th 19 14 

Bro. Little's bill, March 2r)th. 1 H 

Bro. Little's bill, April 7th 4 16 

152 16 2 

The last meeting was held in Redding, April 16th, 1779, 
the Connecticut line having about that time marched to the 
Highlands for the summer campaign. 

Thus the winter wore slowly away. Toward the end of 
March the camp was astir with the bustle of preparation. 

God bless this maiden climate, 

And through her vast domain 
Let hosts of heroes cluster, _ 

Who scorn to wear a chain. 
And blast the venal sycophants, 

Who dare our rights betray, 
Preserve, Preserve, Preserve, Preserve, 

Our brave America. 

Lift up your heads my heroes, ' 

And swear with proud disdain, 
The wretch who would enslave you 

Shall spread his snares in vain. 
Should Europe empty all her force, 

We'd meet them in array, 
And shout and shout, and fight and tight. 

For brave America. 

Some future day shall crown us 

The masters of the main, 
And giving laws and freedom 

To England, France and Spain. 
When all the isles o'er ocean spread, 

Shall tremble and obey 
Their Lords, their Lords, their Lords, 

The I^ords of brave America. 



:]4 

Anns wri'i' l)iiriiislio(l, uuitbnns clcaiie*!. patched and made 
as presontablo as ])ossibl(', bullets molded and cartridge 
boxes filled. 

On March 21st, the following general order was issued: 

HKADciUARTERs Rkddino, March 21st, 1779. 
Col. Hazen's Regiment will march to Springfield in three 
divisions by the shortest notice. The first division will 
march on Monday next, and the other two will follow on 
Thursday and Friday next, weather permitting, and in case 
the detached parties join the regiment. Col. Hazen will take 
with him one piece of cannon and a proportionable number 
of artillerymen. 

On April l]ltli the following was issued : 

The officers are requested to lose no time in preparing for 
the field that they may be ready to leave their present quar- 
ters at the shortest notice. The Quartermaster General, as 
far as it is in his power, will supply those with portman- 
teaus who have not been furnished before, and those who 
have, or shall be, provided, are on no account to carry chests 
or boxes into the field. The i)ortmanteaus are given by the 
public to supersede those of such cumbersome articles in 
order to contract the baggage of the Army and lessen the 
number of Avagons, which, besides saving the expense, is 
attended with maiiy ol)vious and most important military 
advantages. 

The General also thinks it necessary to give explicit notice 
in time, with a vicAV to leave the Army as little encumbered 
as possible in all its movements, and to prevent burthening 
the public and the farmers more than can be avoided. No 
officer whose duty does not really require him to be on horse- 
l)ack will be permitted to keep horses with the Army — it 
ought to be the i)ride of an officer to show the fatigues as 
well as the dangers to which his men are ex])0sed on foot. 
Marching by their sides he will lessen every inconvenience 
and excite in them a spirit of })atience and perseverance. 
Inability alone can justify a deviation from this necessary 
practice. General A\^ashington strongly reconnnends to the 



35 

officers to divest themselves as much as possible of every- 
thing superfluous, taking to the field only what is essential 
for dining and comfort. Such as have not particular friends 
within reach with whom they would choose to confide their 
baggage will apply to the Quartermaster General, who will 
appoint a place for their reception and furnish means of 
transportation. 

On May 24th, General Parsons ordered his brigade "to 
be ready to march to-morrow, at 6 o'clock a. m., complete for 
action." Three days later, Putnam issued his farewell 
address^ as follows : 

Major-General Putnam, being about to take command of 
one of the wings of the Grand Army, before he leaves the 
troops who have served under him the winter past, thinks 
it his duty to signify to them his entire approbation of their 
regular and soldier-like conduct, and wishes them, where- 
ever they may be out, a successful and glorious campaign. 

The main body returned to the Highlands via Ridge- 
field, Bedford and Fishkill, as we find from orders dated at 
those places ; by the first of June we may suppose the camp 
to have been entirelv deserted. 



11. 

A TOUR OF THE GROUNDS. 

The main entrance to the grounds is from the old Sherman 
Turnpike at their extreme southern hniit. The visitor crosses 
first the arched stone bridge, patterned after those in the 
Hudson valley, over which the continentals marched and 
fought. The two block houses within, form the portals, 
and are fac-similes of one still standing on Sugar Island, at 
the mouth of the Detroit River, with the exception that the 
pier or lower story of that is of logs instead of stone. The 
piers are ten feet square and nine feet high ; the houses 
twelve feat square and seven feet high, projecting over the 
piers two feet all round ; this projection was pierced by loop 
holes and allowed the defenders to fire down upon an enemy 
lurkins below. These block houses were a favorite arm of 
defence in the French and Indian wars, and during the 
winning of the West. Some colonial houses even were 
built in this manner, notably the old Avery house in 
Groton, in Eastern Connecticut. The row of palisades 
(Dutch Pdlisadoes) connecting the block houses with the 
cliffs, was often used, in conjunction with the block house, 
to defend a fort or threatened position. 

Passing between the two jaws, of the cliff, over Highland 
brook and across Putnam avenue, we come to the row of 
ruins whose stones formed the chimneys of the former bar- 
racks. The bank above the brook, to be marked by a flag 
staff, was the southern or lowermost extremity of the line. 

Leaving it for the moment, let us examine the monument, 
which crowns a bold crag rising some fifteen feet above the 
plateau on which the barracks were placed. 
(37) , 



It is an (»l)flisk of native iininitc ten fl'ct square at the 
\)i\i<v, lbrty-t\V() feet in hei^iit and crowned by a 1)all two feet 
and a half in dianieter. The shaft is of roek-face ashlar, 
(jiiarried of a l)oulder tliat oeeupied the site of the present 
monument. 

The polished })linths or dies whicli bear the inscriptions, 
are of Ridgfield, Conn, granite, and are five feet square, 
weiu'liing about two tons eacli. 

The inscri})tions are as follows: 

( )n the front or west face : 

Erected 

to Commemorate 

The Winter Quarters 

of Putnam's Division 

of the Continental Army. 

November 7, 1778. 

May 25, 1779. 

On the reverse or east : 

The Men of '7G 

who suffered here. 

To preserve forever their 

Memory, 

The State of Connecticut 

has erected this monument. 

A. I). 1888. 

On the north, a sentiment slightly altered from Putnam's 
stirring address : 

The World 

is full of their praises, 

Posterity 

stands astonished at their 

deeds. 



39 

On the south the names of the principal commanders : 

Putnam, 

McDougal, 

Poor, 

Parsons, 

Huntington . 

The monument was designed by Mr. John Ward Stimson, 
then principal of the art school of the Metropolitan Museum, 
of New York City. The inscription was written by Mr. 
Charles B. Todd. The working drawings were by Architect 
Walter R. Briggs, of Bridgeport. The contractor was Philo 
W. Bates, of Norwalk. The cost of the monument was 
eighteen hundred dollars. 

If we follow Sheldon avenue past the lake and brook to 
the hill-top Ave shall find on the summit two mounds, sup- 
posed soldier's graves. A few yards further north are mas- 
sive boulders, from which fine views of the grounds may be 
had. Continuing north we soon reach a fork in the avenue 
caused by Overlook road leaving it on the left. This road 
forms one of the loveliest drives in the park. From it wide 
views of Little River valley, and of the opposite ridge may 
be had. At its northern extremity it skirts the verge of the 
ledge known as Phillips' Rocks. The boulders on the face 
and at the foot of this ledge are impressive from their mas- 
si veness. Near its northern end is the entrance to Phillip's 
Cave, which has a creepy legend associated with it. After 
the revolution — the story goes — an old soldier named 
Phillips, who . had encamped here in 1778-9, drifted back 
to his former haunts, and took up his abode in this cave, 
living by chance alms and by levying contributions on the 
binns and poultry yards of the neighboring farmers. The 
latter bore with his depredations until forbearance ceased to 
be a virtue, and then a few of the more reckless lay in wait 
for him and shot him as he issued from his caA'e. Tht> 



40 



small plateau just north of the cave was the uortJiern end of 
the encain])nieut. Here is a very interestino- ruin — an old 
cellar evidently of a ina^azine or store house. ( )ld men re- 
member when the line of chimnies extended through this 
plateau, and they should be restored as they formerly ex- 
isted. From this })oint we may follow the line of barracks 
.south to their end by the monument, a distance of a quarter 
of a mile. Putnam avenue runs beside them the entire dis- 
tance. 'I'he first ol)ject of interest as we go south is one of 
the old log barracks restored — it will be seen on the right, 
under Phillips' Rocks. A foot-patli here leads uj) the hill to 
the Overlook road, passing a circular ruin on the right, the 
former bake house. 

Just beyond the barracks we enter the old revolutionary 
orchard — one of the most interesting features of the camp. 
The apple trees hero were set out in the deserted fire places 
the summer the Army left, and are, therefore, one hundred 
and ten years old. In the level field south the stone chim- 
nies were carted away within the memory of men now living, 
and harvests of corn, potatoes, rye, and flax were raised on 
the site formerly devoted to Mars. About midway of the 
field, one of the old fire places may be seen, in which were 
found ashes, bones, and coals, quite well preserved. Fine 
views of the monument may be had from this approach. 

If, from this orchard, we follow the curve of Putnam 
avenue east, we shall cross Cowslip brook by a sul)stantial 
stone bridge, and a few yards beyond pass out l)etween the 
miniature Idock houses of th.e north entrance on to the Sher- 
man turn})ike, which affords an interesting and picturescjue 
drive of two miles to Bethel. 

If, instead of crossing the arched bridge near the north 
entrance, we turn to the right and follow the terrace road, it 
will lead us around by a wild and rocky glen and thence to 
the summit of Prospect Hill, where another extensive view 
mav be had. The road winds down the hill from the sum- 



41 



mit and across the rocky run to rejoin Putnam avenue. We 
will now return to the main entrance by the latter avenue. 
The design is to adorn it with a row of elm trees on each 
side with weeping willows in the centre. On the right, as 
we advance, are three of the fire places restored as they origi- 
nally existed. There are two more farther down under the 
monument. 



r 





(NORTH ENTRANCE.) 

One may enter the block houses, if he desires, by an iron 
stairway and trap door. The cool dim glens on either side 
the block houses will be found delightful retreats. Many 
relics of the camp have been gathered, and it is proposed to 
erect for their custody a cottage fashioned after the old Dutch 
farm house which served as Washington's Headquarters at 
Newburgh, New York, in the winter of 1782-3. 

An enumeration of some of the relics may prove of interest : 
No. 1. Twelve pound cannon ball found amid the ruined 



42 

barracks man}' years a,i2,o by Eli Tread well of Redding. It 
came probably from the foundry in Salisbiir}^, Conn., Avhere 
many of the cannon of the continental army were cast. 

No. 2. Cop})er mess kettle, much battered, found by work- 
men while excavating near the main entrance. 

No. 8. Sheath knife found by Henry Adams of Redding, 
in the old magazine at the extreme north end of the grounds. 

No. 4. Two grape shot, one found in the barracks, the 
other in excavating for Putnam avenue, opposite the monu- 
ment. 

No. 5. Two corroded bullets found by workmen in exca- 
vating Rutman avenue near the monument. 

No. <). Military Ijuttons, one very interesting from its 
bearing the letters U. S. A., on its face, a rare example. 
Found in excavating near the bridge at the north entrance. 

No. 7. Pewter mess spoon found inside a rock at the north 
end of Putman avenue near the orchard. 

No. 8. Horseshoe found in the same locality. 

No. 9. Wrought iron nails used in making the barracks. 

No. 10. Trammel hook found about midway of Putnam 
avenue in one of the old fire places. 

No. 11. Ashes and charcoal found in the old fire places. 

No. 12. Bones taken from the old hre places, found about 
two feet under ground, perfectly preserved, most of them in 
the vicinity of the orchard. 

No. 13. Andirons made by the artificers of the camp, 
1778. Presented to Colonel Aaron Barlow by General Put- 
nam. 



ITINERARY. 



At present but one railroad gives access to the camp, the 
Danbury and Norwalk Division of the Housatonic. Passen- 
gers from New York and along the sound take this road at 
Norwalk, those from the north and east by the New England 
and Housatonic roads, at Danbury. The station nearest the 
camp is Bethel, which is two miles away by a pleasant and 
picturesque road, the Sherman turnpike recently opened. In 
returning to Bethel one should go west by the Sherman 
turnpike to Lonetown School House,thence north by mam 
road to Bethel, a different route. Carriages can be had of 
Bethel liverymen. 

Parties wishing to view all the scenes of revolutionary 
interest in the vicinity should leave the cars at Redding 
Station. As you ahght. Gallows Hill is seen on the east a 
mile away, and in front of you. Umpawaug Hill, Putnam's 
Headquarters is one-half a- mile west. The headquarters 
house was torn down some years ago, and its site is now 
marked by the residence of Mr. Eben Hill. The house 
where Joel Barlow- wrote a large portion of his epic, the 
Vision of Columbus, stands on the corner to the right, oppo- 
site the mill-pond as one turns to go t6 Umpawaug Hill. 
The house was then owned by Col. Aaron Barlow, his brother, 
and an intimate friend of General Putnam's. The mill-dam 
before it, was built by a company of gentlemen organized 
by Joel Barlow for the purpose of kiln drying corn for ex- 
port to the West Indies. The quaint old mill built by them 
was unfortunately burned a few years ago. From the sum- 
mit of Gallows Hill you will see on the east a deep valley, 
bed of an affluent of the Saugatuck. In this valley under 
the hill, perhaps a half mile due east, was placed the second 
camp, the third being about a quarter of a mile north of 

(43) 



44 



Redding Station. Both are marked by a few stone heaps 
onl}'. A guide will be necessary to find either of the last 
named camps. Redding Station is about two-and-one-half 
miles from the Putnam Memorial Camp. The drive thither 
is by a hilly, wooded, picturesque road, regarded by many 
as interesting as the approach from Bethel. The road is 
not so good, however. 







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